Newtown
Nearly half of Newtown's residents rent rather than own, which is the defining feature of this 10,039-person suburb in Toowoomba. With a vacancy rate of 9.9%, well above the national average, and a median house price around $358,000, the suburb sits firmly in the affordable segment compared to most Queensland markets. Household income falls in the 25th percentile nationally, the median age of 35 is 5 years below the national figure, and university qualifications at 24.6% run 5.5 points below the national average. Healthcare and education together employ 37% of the working population, giving Newtown a service-sector character that shapes both its workforce and its rental demand.
Population
10,039
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,200/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
16
Median House
$358K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price of $358,000 places Newtown well below Queensland's capital city benchmarks, making entry costs manageable for first buyers. Separate houses account for 70.9% of the stock, with semi-detached dwellings at 19.2% and apartments at 9.7%, giving buyers a predominantly detached market to choose from. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 50.2% of dwellings, followed by two-bedroom at 28.9%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,254, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 24.1%, below the 30% stress threshold, compared to many southeast Queensland suburbs where buyers face tighter affordability. The 24.4% who own outright suggests a stable long-term owner base coexists with the large rental population.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price of $358,000 places Newtown well below Queensland's capital city benchmarks, making entry costs manageable for first buyers. Separate houses account for 70.9% of the stock, with semi-detached dwellings at 19.2% and apartments at 9.7%, giving buyers a predominantly detached market to choose from. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 50.2% of dwellings, followed by two-bedroom at 28.9%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,254, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 24.1%, below the 30% stress threshold, compared to many southeast Queensland suburbs where buyers face tighter affordability. The 24.4% who own outright suggests a stable long-term owner base coexists with the large rental population.
For Investors
With 48.4% of residents renting, Newtown's tenant pool is among the larger ones you will find in regional Queensland, which supports landlord demand. Weekly rent averages $289, and rent-to-income at 24.1% is below stress levels for most tenants, keeping turnover manageable. The 9.9% vacancy rate is the main caution: it is elevated compared to tighter regional markets and signals that supply currently exceeds demand in the rental segment. Development activity shows 16 applications lodged in the past 12 months, including at least one dual occupancy Material Change of Use application, indicating some investor-driven medium-density activity. At $358,000 median, gross yields are relatively attractive compared to capital city markets, but the vacancy rate means careful property selection matters.
Development Activity
Total DAs
84
Last 12 Months
16
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-27.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Newtown iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Newtown State School
Prep-6 · 337 students
Demographics
The median age of 35 is 5 years below the national figure, giving Newtown a younger population profile than most Australian suburbs. Overseas-born residents make up 17.3%, which is 4.3 points below the national average, and ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic: English (3,695), Irish (1,348), Scottish (1,047) and German (982) are the top groups. Non-English language speakers are a small minority, with Mandarin (62) and Arabic (37) the most common, consistent with 17.3% overseas-born. University qualifications at 24.6% sit 5.5 points below the national average, reflecting the service and trade workforce. The volunteering rate of 14.6% and 70.8% residential stability point to a rooted, community-oriented population compared to higher-turnover inner-city areas.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
70.9%
Houses
19.2%
Townhouse
9.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Newtown's tenure split is skewed toward renting: 48.4% rent, 27.2% carry a mortgage and 24.4% own outright, a profile that positions the suburb as a significant rental market by national and state standards. The stock is dominated by separate houses at 70.9%, with semi-detached dwellings at 19.2% and apartments at only 9.7%. Three-bedroom homes account for 50.2% and two-bedroom at 28.9%, while four-plus bedroom homes represent 16.4%. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,254 and rent-to-income at 24.1% both sit below stress thresholds, indicating that housing costs are relatively affordable compared to most Australian capitals. The 9.9% vacancy rate is the key risk signal, suggesting more rental stock than current demand absorbs.
Mortgage / mo
$1,254
Rent / wk
$289
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$688
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.9%
Unoccupied
463
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.9%
Couples, no children
6,855
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant employer at 24.9% (702 workers), nearly double the second-ranked sector, Education at 12.5% (352 workers). Construction at 8.4%, Retail at 7.7% and Manufacturing at 6.9% round out the top five, giving the local economy a service-and-trades character. By occupation, Professionals lead at 763, closely followed by Community and Personal Service workers (707) and Labourers (663), showing a workforce split between higher-skill and lower-skill roles. The unemployment rate of 7.6% is above most Australian suburban benchmarks, and the participation rate of 56.0% is below national norms, partly because 2,852 residents are not in the labour force. Household income in the 25th percentile nationally reflects these structural employment patterns.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.5%
Part-time
28.9%
Participation
56.0%
Employed
4,218
Occupations
Top Industries
University
24.6%
Postgraduate
5.4%
Born Overseas
17.3%
Dwellings
4,214
Transport to Work
Transport in Newtown is car-dependent, with 84.8% of residents driving to work, above the national average for urban areas. Only 0.6% use public transport and 5.6% walk or cycle, below typical walkable urban benchmarks. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in the available data, so families rely on institutions nearby in Toowoomba's wider network. The need-assistance rate of 8.1% (764 residents) is a relevant welfare indicator, somewhat above the average for a suburb with a median age of 35. Rent stress is absent at 24.1% rent-to-income and mortgage stress is similarly contained at 24.1%, a practical livability advantage compared to higher-cost state and national markets.
Drive
84.8%
Public Transport
0.6%
Walk / Cycle
5.6%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Newtown compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Newtown a good suburb to live in?
Newtown suits residents who want affordable housing in a regional city. The median house price is around $358,000 and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,254, below the 30% stress threshold. Car dependency is high at 84.8% driving to work, and household income sits in the 25th percentile nationally, so access to services and employment diversity are practical considerations for prospective residents.
What is the median house price in Newtown?
The estimated median house price in Newtown QLD (postcode 4350) is approximately $358,000, based on 2025 rental data. Weekly rent averages $289 and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,254. At these levels, the rent-to-income and mortgage-to-income ratios both sit at 24.1%, below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Newtown?
No schools are recorded within the Newtown (4350) suburb boundary in this dataset. Families typically access schools in neighbouring Toowoomba suburbs. With 24.6% of residents holding university qualifications and couples with children making up 2,457 of 6,855 total families, proximity to good schools is a practical priority for many households here.
Is Newtown safe?
Crime statistics are not available for Newtown in this dataset. As indirect indicators, housing stress is low with mortgage-to-income and rent-to-income both at 24.1%, which tends to correlate with stable communities. The residential stability rate of 70.8% suggests a settled population. The unemployment rate of 7.6% is above average and worth factoring into the overall assessment.
Is Newtown good for property investment?
The 48.4% renter share creates a large tenant pool and $289 weekly rent on a $358,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.2%, higher than most capital city markets. The key risk is the 9.9% vacancy rate, which is elevated compared to national balanced-market benchmarks and signals current oversupply in the rental segment. Development activity is modest at 16 applications in 12 months.
How is Newtown's population changing?
Newtown's population stands at 10,039, with 70.8% of residents having stayed in place over five years, indicating strong residential stability. The turnover rate of 29.2% is moderate, supporting rental demand without driving rapid price growth. Formal growth forecasts are not available, but the 2,457 couples-with-children families suggest ongoing family-stage demand in the suburb.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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